Process for preparing an aqueous composite-particle dispersion

ABSTRACT

A process for preparing aqueous dispersions of composite particles using monomers containing silane groups.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing an aqueous dispersion of particles composed of addition polymer and finely divided inorganic solid (aqueous composite-particle dispersion), in which process ethylenically unsaturated monomers are dispersely distributed in aqueous medium and polymerized by the method of free-radical aqueous emulsion polymerization by means of at least one free-radical polymerization initiator in the presence of at least one dispersely distributed, finely divided inorganic solid and at least one dispersant, and which process comprises

-   a) using a stable aqueous dispersion of said at least one inorganic     solid, said dispersion having the characteristic features that at an     initial solids concentration of ≧0.1% by weight, based on the     aqueous dispersion of said at least one inorganic solid, it still     comprises in dispersed form one hour after its preparation more than     90% by weight of the originally dispersed solid and its dispersed     solid particles have a diameter ≦100 nm (aqueous dispersion of     solids), -   b) using as ethylenically unsaturated monomers ≧0.01% and ≦10% by     weight of at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer A     containing a silicon functional group (silane monomer) and ≧90% and     ≦99.99% by weight of at least one further ethylenically unsaturated     monomer B which is different from the monomers A, the amounts of     monomers A and B adding to 100% by weight (total monomer amount), -   c) using 1 to 1000 parts by weight of inorganic solid per 100 parts     by weight of ethylenically unsaturated monomers, and -   d) including at least a portion of the inorganic solid in an initial     charge in an aqueous polymerization medium in the form of an aqueous     dispersion of solids, then -   e) metering at least a portion of the monomers A into the aqueous     polymerization medium over a period of ≧5 and ≦240 minutes, and     subsequently -   f) metering any remainder of the inorganic solid, any remainder of     the monomers A, and the total amount of the monomers B into the     aqueous polymerization medium under polymerization conditions.

The present invention likewise relates to the aqueous composite-particle dispersions obtainable by the process of the invention and to their use, and also to the composite-particle powders obtainable from the aqueous composite-particle dispersions and to their use.

Aqueous composite-particle dispersions are a matter of general knowledge. They are fluid systems comprising in disperse distribution, in the aqueous dispersion medium, addition-polymer coils, consisting of a plurality of interwoven addition-polymer chains, referred to as the polymer matrix, and particles of finely divided inorganic solid. The average diameter of the composite particles is generally in the range ≧10 nm and ≦1000 nm, often in the range ≧50 nm and ≦400 nm, and frequently in the range ≧100 nm and ≦300 nm.

Composite particles and processes for preparing them in the form of aqueous composite-particle dispersions, and also their use, are known to the skilled worker and are disclosed for example in the specifications U.S. Pat. No. 3,544,500, U.S. Pat. No. 4,421,660, U.S. Pat. No. 4,608,401, U.S. Pat. No. 4,981,882, EP-A 104 498, EP-A 505 230, EP-A 572 128, GB-A 2 227 739, WO 01/18081, WO 01/29106, WO 03/000760, and WO 06/072464 and also in Long et al., Tianjin Daxue Xuebao 1991, 4, pages 10 to 15, Bourgeat-Lami et al., Die Angewandte Makromolekulare Chemie 1996, 242, pages 105 to 122, Paulke et al., Synthesis Studies of Paramagnetic Polystyrene Latex Particles in Scientific and Clinical Applications of Magnetic Carriers, pages 69 to 76, Plenum Press, New York, 1997, and Armes et al., Advanced Materials 1999, 11, No. 5, pages 408 to 410.

The prior art relevant for the present invention is as follows.

Van Herk et al. in Macromolecules 2006, 39, pages 4654 to 4656 disclose the encapsulation of phyllosilicates, including phyllosilicates modified covalently with silane monomers, in latex particles by what is called the “starved-feed” emulsion polymerization method under emulsifier-free conditions. The phyllosilicates there are modified in dichloromethane and worked up over a plurality of operating steps before being deployed in the emulsion polymerization.

Bourgeat-Lami et al. in Progress in Solid State Chemistry 2006, 34, pages 121 to 137 describe the hydrophobically covalent modification of phyllosilicates in toluene, and their purification and subsequent deployment in emulsion polymerization.

WO 02/24756 discloses the use of hydrophobicized phyllosilicates in suspension polymerization and miniemulsion polymerization.

Furthermore, WO 02/24758 discloses the use of “easily modified” hydrophobicized phyllosilicates in emulsion polymerization, although the specific modification is not described.

It was an object of the present invention to provide a new preparation process for stable aqueous composite-particle dispersions, using silane monomers.

The process of the invention uses clear water, such as clear drinking water, for example, but, with particular advantage, deionized water, whose total amount is ≧30% and ≦99% and advantageously ≧35% and ≦95%, and with particular advantage ≧40% and ≦90%, by weight, based on the aqueous composite-particle dispersion.

Finely divided inorganic solids suitable for the process of the invention are all those which form stable aqueous dispersions which at an initial solids concentration of ≧0.1% by weight, based on the aqueous dispersion of said at least one inorganic solid, still comprise in dispersed form one hour after their preparation or after homogeneous dispersing of the sedimented solids, without further stirring or shaking, more than 90% by weight of the originally dispersed solid and whose dispersed solid particles have a diameter ≦100 nm.

The quantitative determination of the initial solids concentration and of the solids concentration after one hour takes place for the purposes of this specification by the method of analytical ultracentrifugation (cf. on this point S. E. Harding et al., Analytical Ultracentrifugation in Biochemistry and Polymer Science, Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, Great Britain 1992, Chapter 10, Analysis of Polymer Dispersions with an Eight-Cell AUC Multiplexer: High Resolution Particle Size Distribution and Density Gradient Techniques, W. Mächtle, pages 147 to 175). The determination of the particle size of the finely divided inorganic solid and also of the composite particles takes place for the purposes of this specification generally by the method of quasielastic light scattering (DIN ISO 13321) using a High Performance Particle Sizer (HPPS) from Malvern Instruments Ltd.

Finely divided inorganic solids which can be used in accordance with the invention are in principle metals, metal compounds, such as metal oxides and metal salts, and also semimetal compounds and nonmetal compounds. Finely divided metal powders which can be used are noble metal colloids, such as palladium, silver, ruthenium, platinum, gold, and rhodium, for example, and their alloys. Examples that may be mentioned of finely divided metal oxides include titanium dioxide (commercially available, for example, as Hombitec® grades from Sachtleben Chemie GmbH), zirconium(IV) oxide, tin(II) oxide, tin(IV) oxide (commercially available, for example, as Nyacol® SN grades from Akzo-Nobel), aluminum oxide (commercially available, for example, as Nyacol® AL grades from Akzo-Nobel), barium oxide, magnesium oxide, various iron oxides, such as iron(II) oxide (wuestite), iron(III) oxide (hematite) and iron(II/III) oxide (magnetite), chromium(III) oxide, antimony(III) oxide, bismuth(III) oxide, zinc oxide (commercially available, for example, as Sachtotec® grades from Sachtleben Chemie GmbH), nickel(II) oxide, nickel(III) oxide, cobalt(II) oxide, cobalt(III) oxide, copper(II) oxide, yttrium(III) oxide (commercially available, for example, as Nyacol® YTTRIA grades from Akzo-Nobel), cerium(IV) oxide (commercially available, for example, as Nyacol® CEO2 grades from Akzo-Nobel), amorphous and/or in their different crystal modifications, and also their hydroxy oxides, such as, for example, hydroxytitanium(IV) oxide, hydroxyzirconium(IV) oxide, hydroxyaluminum oxide (commercially available, for example, as Disperal® grades from Condea-Chemie GmbH) and hydroxyiron(III) oxide, amorphous and/or in their different crystal modifications. The following metal salts, amorphous and/or in their different crystal structures, can be used in principle in the process of the invention: sulfides, such as iron(II) sulfide, iron(III) sulfide, iron(II) disulfide (pyrite), tin(II) sulfide, tin(IV) sulfide, mercury(II) sulfide, cadmium(II) sulfide, zinc sulfide, copper(II) sulfide, silver sulfide, nickel(II) sulfide, cobalt(II) sulfide, cobalt(III) sulfide, manganese(II) sulfide, chromium(III) sulfide, titanium(II) sulfide, titanium(III) sulfide, titanium(IV) sulfide, zirconium(IV) sulfide, antimony(III) sulfide, and bismuth(III) sulfide, hydroxides, such as tin(II) hydroxide, aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, barium hydroxide, zinc hydroxide, iron(II) hydroxide, and iron(III) hydroxide, sulfates, such as calcium sulfate, strontium sulfate, barium sulfate, and lead(IV) sulfate, carbonates, such as lithium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, calcium carbonate, zinc carbonate, zirconium(IV) carbonate, iron(II) carbonate, and iron(III) carbonate, orthophosphates, such as lithium orthophosphate, calcium orthophosphate, zinc orthophosphate, magnesium orthophosphate, aluminum orthophosphate, tin(III) orthophosphate, iron(II) orthophosphate, and iron(III) orthophosphate, metaphosphates, such as lithium metaphosphate, calcium metaphosphate, and aluminum metaphosphate, pyrophosphates, such as magnesium pyrophosphate, calcium pyrophosphate, zinc pyrophosphate, iron(III) pyrophosphate, and tin(II) pyrophosphate, ammonium phosphates, such as magnesium ammonium phosphate, zinc ammonium phosphate, hydroxylapatite [Ca₅{(PO₄)₃OH}], orthosilicates, such as lithium orthosilicate, calcium/magnesium orthosilicate, aluminum orthosilicate, iron(II) orthosilicate, iron(III) orthosilicate, magnesium orthosilicate, zinc orthosilicate, zirconium(III) orthosilicate and zirconium(IV) orthosilicate, metasilicates, such as lithium metasilicate, calcium/magnesium metasilicate, calcium metasilicate, magnesium metasilicate, and zinc metasilicate, phyllosilicates, such as sodium aluminum silicate and sodium magnesium silicate, especially in spontaneously delaminating form, such as, for example, Optigel® SH and Optigel® EX 0482 (trademarks of Südchemie AG), Saponit® SKS-20 and Hektorit® SKS 21 (trademarks of Hoechst AG), and Laponite® RD and Laponite® GS (trademarks of Rockwood Holdings, Inc.), aluminates, such as lithium aluminate, calcium aluminate, and zinc aluminate, borates, such as magnesium metaborate and magnesium orthoborate, oxalates, such as calcium oxalate, zirconium(IV) oxalate, magnesium oxalate, zinc oxalate, and aluminum oxalate, tartrates, such as calcium tartrate, acetylacetonates, such as aluminum acetylacetonate and iron(III) acetylacetonate, salicylates, such as aluminum salicylate, citrates, such as calcium citrate, iron(II) citrate, and zinc citrate, palmitates, such as aluminum palmitate, calcium palmitate, and magnesium palmitate, stearates, such as aluminum stearate, calcium stearate, magnesium stearate, and zinc stearate, laurates, such as calcium laurate, linoleates, such as calcium linoleate, and oleates, such as calcium oleate, iron(II) oleate or zinc oleate.

As an essential semimetal compound which can be used in accordance with the invention, mention may be made of amorphous silicon dioxide and/or silicon dioxide present in different crystal structures. Silicon dioxide suitable in accordance with the invention is commercially available and can be obtained, for example, as Aerosil® (trademark of Degussa AG), Levasil® (trademark of Bayer AG), Ludox® (trademark of DuPont), Nyacol® and Bindzil® (trademarks of Akzo-Nobel), and Snowtex® (trademark of Nissan Chemical Industries, Ltd.). Nonmetal compounds suitable in accordance with the invention are, for example, colloidal graphite or diamond.

Particularly suitable finely divided inorganic solids are those whose solubility in water at 20° C. and 1.013 bar (absolute) is ≦1 g/l, preferably ≦0.1 g/l and, in particular, ≦0.01 g/l. Particular preference is given to compounds selected from the group comprising silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, tin(IV) oxide, yttrium(III) oxide, cerium(IV) oxide, hydroxyaluminum oxide, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, calcium orthophosphate, magnesium orthophosphate, calcium metaphosphate, magnesium metaphosphate, calcium pyrophosphate, magnesium pyrophosphate, orthosilicates, such as lithium orthosilicate, calcium/magnesium orthosilicate, aluminum orthosilicate, iron(II) orthosilicate, iron(III) orthosilicate, magnesium orthosilicate, zinc orthosilicate, zirconium(III) orthosilicate, and zirconium(IV) orthosilicate, metasilicates, such as lithium metasilicate, calcium/magnesium metasilicate, calcium metasilicate, magnesium metasilicate, and zinc metasilicate, phyllosilicates, such as sodium aluminum silicate and sodium magnesium silicate, especially in spontaneously delaminating form, such as, for example, products from the series including Nanofil®, Optigel®, Closite® (trademarks of Südchemie AG), Somasif®, Lucentite® (trademarks of CBC Japan Co., Ltd), Saponit®, Hektorit® (trademarks of Hoechst AG) and Laponite® (trademark of Rockwood Holdings, Inc.), or iron(II) oxide, iron(III) oxide, iron(II/III) oxide, titanium dioxide, hydroxylapatite, zinc oxide, and zinc sulfide.

Preferably the at least one finely divided inorganic solid is selected from the group comprising silicon dioxide, phyllosilicates, aluminum oxide, hydroxyaluminum oxide, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, calcium orthophosphate, magnesium orthophosphate, iron(II) oxide, iron(III) oxide, iron(II/III) oxide, tin(IV) oxide, cerium(IV) oxide, yttrium(III) oxide, titanium dioxide, hydroxylapatite, zinc oxide, and zinc sulfide.

Particular preference is given to silicon compounds, such as pyrogenic (fumed) silica, colloidal silica, and/or phyllosilicates.

In the process of the invention it is also possible to use with advantage the commercially available compounds of the Aerosil®, Levasil®, Ludox®, Nyacol®, and Bindzil® grades (silicon dioxide), Nanofil®, Optigel®, Somasif®, Cloisite®, Lucentite®, Saponit®, Hektorit®, and Laponite® grades (phyllosilicates), Disperal® grades (hydroxyaluminum oxide), Nyacol® AL grades (aluminum oxide), Hombitec® grades (titanium dioxide), Nyacol® SN grades (tin(IV) oxide), Nyacol® YTTRIA grades (yttrium(III) oxide), Nyacol® CEO2 grades (cerium(IV) oxide), and Sachtotec® grades (zinc oxide).

The finely divided inorganic solids which can be used to prepare the composite particles have particles which, dispersed in the aqueous polymerization medium, have a particle diameter of ≦100 nm. Finely divided inorganic solids used successfully are those whose dispersed particles have a particle diameter >0 nm but ≦90 nm, ≦80 nm, ≦70 nm, ≦60 nm, ≦50 nm, ≦40 nm, ≦30 nm, ≦20 nm or ≦10 nm and all values in between. With advantage, finely divided inorganic solids are used which have a particle diameters ≦50 nm.

The obtainability of finely divided solids is known in principle to the skilled worker and they are obtained, for example, by precipitation reactions or chemical reactions in the gas phase (on this point cf. E. Matijevic, Chem. Mater. 5 (1993) pages 412 to 426; Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, Vol. A 23, pages 583 to 660, Verlag Chemie, Weinheim, 1992; D. F. Evans, H. Wennerström in The Colloidal Domain, pages 363 to 405, Verlag Chemie, Weinheim, 1994, and R. J. Hunter in Foundations of Colloid Science, Vol. I, pages 10 to 17, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1991).

The stable dispersions of solids are often prepared directly during synthesis of the finely divided inorganic solids in aqueous medium or else by dispersing the finely divided inorganic solid into the aqueous polymerization medium. Depending on the way in which said finely divided inorganic solids are prepared, this is done either directly, in the case, for example, of precipitated or pyrogenic silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, etc., or by using appropriate auxiliary devices, such as dispersers or ultrasound sonotrodes, for example.

Finely divided inorganic solids suitable with advantage for preparing an aqueous composite-particle dispersion are those whose aqueous dispersion of solids, at an initial solids concentration of ≧0.1% by weight, based on the aqueous dispersion of solids, still comprises in dispersed form one hour after its preparation or after homogeneous dispersing of the sedimented solids, without further stirring or shaking, more than 90% by weight of the originally dispersed solid and whose dispersed solid particles have a diameter ≦100 nm. Initial solids concentrations ≦60% by weight are customary. With advantage, however, it is also possible to use initial solids concentrations ≦55% by weight, ≦50% by weight, ≦45% by weight, ≦40% by weight, ≦35% by weight, ≦30% by weight, ≦25% by weight, ≦20% by weight, ≦15% by weight, ≦10% by weight and ≧0.5% by weight, ≧1% by weight, ≧2% by weight, ≧3% by weight, ≧4% by weight or ≧5% by weight, and all values in between, based in each case on the aqueous dispersion of solids. Based on 100 parts by weight of ethylenically unsaturated monomers (total monomer amount), use is made of 1 to 1000 advantageously 5 to 300, and with particular advantage 10 to 200 parts by weight of said at least one finely divided inorganic solid in the preparation of aqueous composite-particle dispersions.

In step d) of the process of the invention at least a portion, advantageously ≧10%, ≧30% or ≧50% by weight, and with particularly advantage ≧60%, ≧70%, ≧80% or ≧90% by weight, of the total amount of the inorganic solid is included in the initial charge in the aqueous polymerization medium. Any remainder of inorganic solid is metered into the aqueous polymerization medium in step f) of the process under polymerization conditions, discontinuously in one or more portions or continuously at a constant or a varying volume flow rate, more particularly in the form of an aqueous solids dispersion. With advantage, however, the total amount of the inorganic solid is included, in the form of an aqueous solids dispersion, in the initial charge.

For preparing the aqueous composite-particle dispersions, dispersants used are generally those which maintain not only the finely divided inorganic solid particles but also the monomer droplets and the resulting composite particles in disperse distribution in the aqueous phase and so ensure the stability of the aqueous dispersions of composite particles that are produced. Suitable dispersants include both the protective colloids commonly used to carry out free-radical aqueous emulsion polymerizations, and emulsifiers.

An exhaustive description of suitable protective colloids is given in Houben-Weyl, Methoden der organischen Chemie, Volume XIV/1, Makromolekulare Stoffe [Macromolecular compounds], Georg-Thieme-Verlag, Stuttgart, 1961, pages 411 to 420.

Examples of suitable neutral protective colloids are polyvinyl alcohols, polyalkylene glycols, cellulose derivatives, starch derivatives, and gelatin derivatives.

Suitable anionic protective colloids, i.e., protective colloids whose dispersive component has at least one negative electrical charge, are for example polyacrylic acids and polymethacrylic acids and their alkali metal salts, copolymers comprising acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid, 4-styrenesulfonic acid and/or maleic anhydride, and the alkali metal salts of such copolymers, and also alkali metal salts of sulfonic acids of high molecular mass compounds such as, for example, polystyrene.

Suitable cationic protective colloids, i.e., protective colloids whose dispersive component has at least one positive electrical charge, are, for example, the N-protonated and/or N-alkylated derivatives of homopolymers and copolymers comprising N-vinylpyrrolidone, N-vinylcaprolactam, N-vinylcarbazole, 1-vinylimidazole, 2-vinylimidazole, 2-vinylpyridine, 4-vinylpyridine, acrylamide, methacrylamide, amino-functional acrylates, methacrylates, acrylamides and/or methacrylamides.

It is of course also possible to use mixtures of emulsifiers and/or protective colloids. As dispersants it is common to use exclusively emulsifiers, whose relative molecular weights, unlike those of the protective colloids, are usually below 1500 g/mol. Where mixtures of surface-active substances are used the individual components must of course be compatible with one another, which in case of doubt can be checked by means of a few preliminary experiments. An overview of suitable emulsifiers is given in Houben-Weyl, Methoden der organischen Chemie, Volume XIV/1, Makromolekulare Stoffe [Macromolecular compounds], Georg-Thieme-Verlag, Stuttgart, 1961, pages 192 to 208.

Customary nonionic emulsifiers are for example ethoxylated mono-, di- and tri-alkylphenols (EO units: 3 to 50, alkyl: C₄ to C₁₂) and ethoxylated fatty alcohols (ED units: 3 to 80; alkyl: C₈ to C₃₆). Examples thereof are the Lutensol® A grades (C₁₂C₁₄ fatty alcohol ethoxylates, BO units: 3 to 8), Lutensol® AO grades (C₁₃C₁₅ oxo alcohol ethoxylates, EO units: 3 to 30), Lutensol® AT grades (C₁₆C₁₈ fatty alcohol ethoxylates, EO units: 11 to 80), Lutensol® ON grades (C₁₀ oxo alcohol ethoxylates, EO units: 3 to 11), and the Lutensol® TO grades (C₁₃ oxo alcohol ethoxylates, EO units: 3 to 20) from BASF AG.

Customary anionic emulsifiers are for example, alkali metal salts and ammonium salts of alkyl sulfates (alkyl: C₈ to C₁₂), of sulfuric monoesters with ethoxylated alkanols (EO units: 4 to 30, alkyl: C₁₂ to C₁₈) and with ethoxylated alkylphenols (EO units: 3 to 50, alkyl: C₄ to C₁₂), of alkylsulfonic acids (alkyl: C₁₂ to C₁₈) and of alkylarylsulfonic acids (alkyl: C₉ to C₁₈).

Compounds which have proven suitable as further anionic emulsifiers are, furthermore, compounds of the general formula I

in which R¹ and R² are hydrogens or C₄ to C₂₄ alkyl but are not both simultaneously hydrogens and M¹ and M² can be alkali metal ions and/or ammonium ions. In the general formula I, R¹ and R² are preferably linear or branched alkyl radicals of 6 to 18 carbons, especially 6, 12 and 16 carbons, or —H, R¹ and R² not both being hydrogens simultaneously. M¹ and M² are preferably sodium, potassium or ammonium, particular preference being given to sodium. Particularly advantageous compounds I are those in which M¹ and M² are sodium, R¹ is a branched alkyl radical of 12 carbons, and R² is a hydrogen or R¹. Frequently, use is made of technical-grade mixtures containing a fraction of from 50 to 90% by weight of the monoalkylated product; for example, Dowfax® 2A1 (trademark of Dow Chemical Company). The compounds I are widely known, from U.S. Pat. No. 4,269,749, for example, and are obtainable commercially.

Suitable cation-active emulsifiers are generally C₆-C₁₈alkyl, aralkyl or heterocyclyl-containing primary, secondary, tertiary or quaternary ammonium salts, alkanolammonium salts, pyridinium salts, imidazolinium salts, oxazolinium salts, morpholinium salts, thiazolinium salts, and salts of amine oxides, quinolinium salts, isoquinolinium salts, tropylium salts, sulfonium salts, and phosphonium salts. Examples that may be mentioned include dodecylammonium acetate or the corresponding hydrochloride, the chlorides or acetates of the various paraffinic acid 2-(N,N,N-trimethylammonium ethyl esters, N-cetylpyridinium chloride, N-laurylpyridinium sulfate, and also N-cetyl-N,N,N-trimethylammonium bromide, N-dodecyl-N,N,N-trimethylammonium bromide, N-octyl-N,N,N-trimethylammonium bromide, N,N-distearyl-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride, and the gemini surfactant N,N′-(lauryldimethyl)ethylenediamine dibromide. Many further examples can be found in H. Stache, Tensid-Taschenbuch, Carl-Hanser-Verlag, Munich, Vienna, 1981, and in McCutcheon's, Emulsifiers & Detergents, MC Publishing Company, Glen Rock, 1989.

Frequently used for preparing the aqueous composite-particle dispersions is between 0.1% to 10%, often 0.5% to 7.0% and frequently 1.0% to 5.0% by weight of dispersant, based in each case on the total amount of aqueous composite-particle dispersion. Preference is given to using emulsifiers, especially nonionic and/or anionic emulsifiers. With particular advantage anionic emulsifiers are used.

In accordance with the invention it is possible if appropriate to include a portion or the entirety of dispersant in the initial charge in the polymerization vessel, as a constituent of the aqueous polymerization medium comprising a portion or the entirety of the inorganic solid [process step d)]. Alternatively it is possible to supply the entirety or any remainder of dispersant to the aqueous polymerization medium during step e) or during step f) of the process. The entirety or any remainder of dispersant can in that case be metered into the aqueous polymerization medium discontinuously, in one or more portions, or continuously, with the same or changing volume flow rates. With particular advantage the metering of the dispersants takes place during the polymerization reaction in step f) of the process, continuously with the same volume flow rates, more particularly as part of an aqueous monomer emulsion.

Ethylenically unsaturated monomers used in accordance with the invention are ≧0.01% and ≦10% by weight of at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer A containing a silicon functional group (silane monomer) and ≧90% and ≦99.99% by weight of at least one further ethylenically unsaturated monomer B which is different from the monomers A, the amounts of monomers A and B adding to 100% by weight (total monomer amount).

Suitable monomers A include all free-radically copolymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomers which contain at least one silicon functional group, such as, for example, vinylalkoxysilanes, such as more particularly vinyltrimethoxysilane, vinyltriethoxysilane, vinyltriisopropoxysilane, vinyltriphenoxysilane, vinyltris(dimethylsiloxy)silane, vinyltris(2-methoxyethoxy)silane, vinyltris(3-methoxypropoxy)silane and/or vinyltris(trimethylsiloxy)silane, acryloyloxysilanes, such as more particularly 2-(acryloyloxyethoxy)trimethylsilane, acryloyloxymethyltrimethylsilane, (3-acryloyloxypropyl)dimethylmethoxysilane, (3-acryloyloxypropyl)methylbis(trimethylsiloxy)silane, (3-acryloyloxypropyl)methyldimethoxysilane, (3-acryloyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane and/or (3-acryloyloxypropyl)tris(trimethylsiloxy)silane, methacryloyloxysilanes, such as more particularly (3-methacryloyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane, (3-methacryloyloxypropyl)triethoxysilane, (methacryloyloxymethyl)methyldiethoxysilane and/or (3-methacryloyloxypropyl)methyldiethyloxysilane. With particular advantage in accordance with the invention use is made of acryloyloxysilanes and/or methacryloyloxysilanes, more particularly methacryloyloxysilanes, such as preferably (3-methacryloyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane, (3-methacryloyloxypropyl)triethoxysilane, (methacryloyloxymethyl)methyldiethoxysilane and/or (3-methacryloyloxypropyl)methyldiethyloxysilane.

In step e) of the process at least a portion of the monomers A is metered into the aqueous polymerization medium over a period ≧5 and ≦240 minutes, advantageously ≧30 and ≦120 minutes, and with particular advantage ≧45 and ≦75 minutes. This metering takes place advantageously with the same continuous volume flow. In step e) of the process, in accordance with the invention ≧0.1% and ≦100% by weight, advantageously ≧5% and ≦70% by weight, and with particular advantage ≧10% and ≦50% by weight of monomers A, based on the total amount of the monomers A, are metered into the aqueous polymerization medium.

Generally speaking, step e) of the process takes place with the aqueous polymerization medium at a temperature ≧20° C., with advantage at a temperature ≧50 and ≦100° C., and with particular advantage at a temperature ≧75 and ≦95° C.

Any remainder of monomers A can be metered into the aqueous polymerization medium in step f) of the process, discontinuously in one or more portions, or continuously with the same or changing volume flow rates. With particular advantage the metering of the monomers A takes place during the polymerization reaction in step f) of the process, continuously with the same volume flow rates, more particularly as part of an aqueous emulsion of the monomers B.

Based on the total monomer amount, in accordance with the invention, ≧0.01% and ≦10%, advantageously ≧0.1 and ≦5%, and with particular advantage ≧0.5% and ≦3% by weight of monomers A are used, corresponding to an amount of monomers B ≧90% and ≦99.99%, advantageously ≧95% and ≦99.9%, and with particular advantage ≧97% and ≦99.5% by weight.

In accordance with the invention, advantageously, the total amount of monomers A is ≧0.5% and ≦3% by weight, based on the total monomer amount, ≧10% and ≦50% by weight of the total amount of monomers A being metered in step e) of the process.

Suitable monomers B include, in particular, ethylenically unsaturated monomers which are easy to copolymerize free-radically with the silane monomers, such as, for example, ethylene, vinylaromatic monomers, such as styrene, α-methylstyrene, o-chlorostyrene or vinyltoluenes, esters of vinyl alcohol and C₁-C₁₈ monocarboxylic acids, such as vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate, vinyl n-butyrate, vinyl laurate and vinyl stearate, esters of preferably C₃-C₆ α,β-monoethylenically unsaturated mono- and dicarboxylic acids, such as especially acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid and itaconic acid, with generally C₁-C₁₂, preferably C₁-C₈ and, in particular, C₁-C₄ alkanols, such as, in particular, methyl, ethyl, n-butyl, isobutyl and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate and methacrylate, dimethyl maleate and di-n-butyl maleate, nitriles of α,β-monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids, such as acrylonitrile, and C₄₋₈ conjugated dienes, such as 1,3-butadiene and isoprene. These monomers generally constitute the principal monomers, which, based on the overall amount of the monomers B to be polymerized by the process of the invention, normally account for a proportion of ≧50%, ≧80% or ≧90% by weight. As a general rule, these monomers are only of moderate to poor solubility in water under standard conditions [20° C., 1 atm (absolute)].

Further monomers B which customarily increase the internal strength of the films of the polymer matrix normally contain at least one hydroxyl, N-methylol or carbonyl group or at least two nonconjugated ethylenically unsaturated double bonds. Examples here are monomers having two vinyl radicals, monomers having two vinylidene radicals, and monomers having two alkenyl radicals. Particularly advantageous in this context are the diesters of dihydric alcohols with α,β-monoethylenically unsaturated monocarboxylic acids, among which acrylic and methacrylic acid are preferred. Examples of this kind of monomer having two nonconjugated ethylenically unsaturated double bonds are alkylene glycol diacrylates and dimethacrylates such as ethylene glycol diacrylate, 1,2-propylene glycol diacrylate, 1,3-propylene glycol diacrylate, 1,3-butylene glycol diacrylate, 1,4-butylene glycol diacrylates and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, 1,2-propylene glycol dimethacrylate, 1,3-propylene glycol dimethacrylate, 1,3-butylene glycol dimethacrylate, 1,4-butylene glycol dimethacrylate, and also divinylbenzene, vinyl methacrylate, vinyl acrylate, allyl methacrylate, allyl acrylate, diallyl maleate, diallyl fumarate, methylenebisacrylamide, cyclopentadienyl acrylate, triallyl cyanurate, and triallyl isocyanurate. Of particular importance in this context are also the methacrylic and acrylic C₁-C₈ hydroxyalkyl esters, such as n-hydroxyethyl, n-hydroxypropyl or n-hydroxybutyl acrylate and methacrylate, and compounds such as diacetoneacrylamide and acetylacetoxyethyl acrylate and methacrylate. In accordance with the invention, the aforementioned monomers, based on the total amount of the monomers B to be polymerized, are used in amounts of up to 5%, frequently 0.1% to 3%, and often 0.5% to 2% by weight, for the polymerization.

Besides these, it is possible additionally to use as monomers B those ethylenically unsaturated monomers BS which either comprise at least one acid group and/or its corresponding anion or those ethylenically unsaturated monomers BA which comprise at least one amino, amido, ureido or N-heterocyclic group and/or the N-protonated or N-alkylated ammonium derivatives thereof. Based on the total amount of the monomers B to be polymerized, the amount of monomers BS or monomers BA, respectively, is up to 10% by weight, often 0.1% to 7% by weight, and frequently 0.2% to 5% by weight.

Monomers BS used are ethylenically unsaturated monomers containing at least one acid group. The acid group may, for example, be a carboxylic, sulfonic, sulfuric, phosphoric and/or phosphonic acid group. Examples of such monomers BS are acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, itaconic acid, crotonic acid, 4-styrene-sulfonic acid, 2-methacryloyloxyethylsulfonic acid, vinylsulfonic acid, and vinylphosphonic acid, and also phosphoric monoesters of n-hydroxyalkylacrylates and n-hydroxyalkyl methacrylates, such as phosphoric monoesters of hydroxyethyl acrylate, n-hydroxypropyl acrylate, n-hydroxybutyl acrylate and hydroxyethyl methacrylate, n-hydroxypropyl methacrylate or n-hydroxybutyl methacrylate, for example. In accordance with the invention, however, it is also possible to use the ammonium and alkali metal salts of the aforementioned ethylenically unsaturated monomers containing at least one acid group. Particularly preferred alkali metals are sodium and potassium.

Examples of such compounds are the ammonium, sodium, and potassium salts of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, itaconic acid, crotonic acid, 4-styrenesulfonic acid, 2-methacryloyloxyethylsulfonic acid, vinylsulfonic acid, and vinylphosphonic acid, and also the mono- and di-ammonium, -sodium and potassium salts of the phosphoric monoesters of hydroxyethyl acrylate, n-hydroxypropyl acrylate, n-hydroxybutyl acrylate and hydroxyethyl methacrylate, n-hydroxypropyl methacrylate or n-hydroxybutyl methacrylate.

Preference is given to using acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, itaconic acid, crotonic acid, 4-styrenesulfonic acid, 2-methacryloyloxyethylsulfonic acid, vinylsulfonic acid, and vinylphosphonic acid as monomers BS.

As monomers BA, use is made of ethylenically unsaturated monomers which comprise at least one amino, amido, ureido or N-heterocyclic group and/or the N-protonated or N-alkylated ammonium derivatives thereof.

Examples of monomers BA which comprise at least one amino group are 2-aminoethyl acrylate, 2-aminoethyl methacrylate, 3-aminopropyl acrylate, 3-aminopropyl methacrylate, 4-amino-n-butyl acrylate, 4-amino-n-butyl methacrylate, 2-(N-methylamino)ethyl acrylate, 2-(N-methylamino)ethyl methacrylate, 2-(N-ethylamino)ethyl acrylate, 2-(N-ethylamino)ethyl methacrylate, 2-(N-n-propylamino)ethyl acrylate, 2-(N-n-propylamino)ethyl methacrylate, 2-(N-isopropylamino)ethyl acrylate, 2-(N-iso-propylamino)ethyl methacrylate, 2-(N-tert-butylamino)ethyl acrylate, 2-(N-tert-butylamino)ethyl methacrylate (available commercially, for example, as Norsocryl® TBAEMA from Elf Atochem), 2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethyl acrylate (available commercially, for example, as Norsocryl® ADAME from Elf Atochem), 2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (available commercially, for example, as Norsocryl® MADAME from Elf Atochem), 2-(N,N-diethylamino)ethyl acrylate, 2-(N,N-diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate, 2-(N,N-di-n-propylamino)ethyl acrylate, 2-(N,N-di-n-propylamino)ethyl methacrylate, 2-(N,N-di-isopropylamino)ethyl acrylate, 2-(N,N-di-iso-propylamino)ethyl methacrylate, 3-(N-methylamino)propyl acrylate, 3-(N-methylamino)propyl methacrylate, 3-(N-ethylamino)propyl acrylate, 3-(N-ethylamino)propyl methacrylate, 3-(N-n-propylamino)propyl acrylate, 3-(N-n-propylamino)propyl methacrylate, 3-(N-isopropylamino)propyl acrylate, 3-(N-iso-propylamino)propyl methacrylate, 3-(N-tert-butylamino)propyl acrylate, 3-(N-tert-butylamino)propyl methacrylate, 3-(N,N-dimethylamino)propyl acrylate, 3-(N,N-dimethylamino)propyl methacrylate, 3-(N,N-diethylamino)propyl acrylate, 3-(N,N-diethylamino)propyl methacrylate, 3-(N,N-di-n-propylamino)propyl acrylate, 3-(N,N-di-n-propylamino)propyl methacrylate, 3-(N,N-di-iso-propylamino)propyl acrylate, and 3-(N,N-di-iso-propylamino)propyl methacrylate.

Examples of monomers BA which comprise at least one amido group are acrylamide, methacrylamide, N-methylacrylamide, N-methylmethacrylamide, N-ethylacrylamide, N-ethylmethacrylamide, N-n-propylacrylamide, N-n-propylmethacrylamide, N-iso-propylacrylamide, N-iso-propylmethacrylamide, N-tert-butylacrylamide, N-tert-butylmethacrylamide, N,N-dimethylacrylamide, N,N-dimethylmethacrylamide, N,N-diethylacrylamide, N,N-diethylmethacrylamide, N,N-di-n-propylacrylamide, N,N-di-n-propylmethacrylamide, N,N-di-iso-propylacrylamide, N,N-di-iso-propylmethacrylamide, N,N-di-n-butylacrylamide, N,N-di-n-butylmethacrylamide, N-(3-N′,N′-dimethylaminopropyl)methacrylamide, diacetoneacrylamide, N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide, N-(diphenylmethyl)acrylamide, N-cyclohexylacrylamide, and also N-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylcaprolactam.

Examples of monomers BA which comprise at least one ureido group are N,N′-divinylethyleneurea and 2-(1-imidazolin-2-onyl)ethyl methacrylate (available commercially, for example, as Norsocryl® 100 from Elf Atochem).

Examples of monomers BA which comprise at least one N-heterocyclic group are 2-vinylpyridine, 4-vinylpyridine, 1-vinylimidazole, 2-vinylimidazole, and N-vinylcarbazole.

Preference is given to using as monomers BA the following compounds: 2-vinylpyridine, 4-vinylpyridine, 2-vinylimidazole, 2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethyl acrylate, 2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate, 2-(N,N-diethylamino)ethyl acrylate, 2-(N,N-diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate, 2-(N-tert-butylamino)ethyl methacrylate, N-(3-N′,N′-dimethylaminopropyl)methacrylamide, and 2-(1-imidazolin-2-onyl)ethyl methacrylate.

Depending on the pH of the aqueous reaction medium, it is possible for some or all of the aforementioned nitrogen-containing monomers BA to be present in the N-protonated quaternary ammonium form.

Examples that may be mentioned as monomers BA which have a quaternary alkylammonium structure on the nitrogen include 2-(N,N,N-trimethylammonium)ethyl acrylate chloride (available commercially, for example, as Norsocryl® ADAMQUAT MC 80 from Elf Atochem), 2-(N,N,N-trimethylammonium)ethyl methacrylate chloride (available commercially, for example, as Norsocryl® MADQUAT MC 75 from Elf Atochem), 2-(N-methyl-N,N-diethylammonium)ethyl acrylate chloride, 2-(N-methyl-N,N-diethylammonium)ethyl methacrylate chloride, 2-(N-methyl-N,N-dipropylammonium)ethyl acrylate chloride, 2-(N-methyl-N,N-dipropylammonium)ethyl methacrylate, 2-(N-benzyl-N,N-dimethylammonium)ethyl acrylate chloride (available commercially, for example, as Norsocryl® ADAMQUAT BZ 80 from Elf Atochem), 2-(N-benzyl-N,N-dimethylammonium)ethyl methacrylate chloride (available commercially, for example, as Norsocryl® MADQUAT BZ 75 from Elf Atochem), 2-(N-benzyl-N,N-diethylammonium)ethyl acrylate chloride, 2-(N-benzyl-N,N-diethylammonium)ethyl methacrylate chloride, 2-(N-benzyl-N,N-dipropylammonium)ethyl acrylate chloride, 2-(N-benzyl-N,N-dipropylammonium)ethyl methacrylate chloride, 3-(N,N,N-trimethylammonium)propyl acrylate chloride, 3-(N,N,N-trimethylammonium)propyl methacrylate chloride, 3-(N-methyl-N,N-diethylammonium)propyl acrylate chloride, 3-(N-methyl-N,N-diethylammonium)propyl methacrylate chloride, 3-(N-methyl-N,N-dipropylammonium)propyl acrylate chloride, 3-(N-methyl-N,N-dipropylammonium)propyl methacrylate chloride, 3-(N-benzyl-N,N-dimethylammonium)propyl acrylate chloride, 3-(N-benzyl-N,N-dimethylammonium)propyl methacrylate chloride, 3-(N-benzyl-N,N-diethylammonium)propyl acrylate chloride, 3-(N-benzyl-N,N-diethylammonium)propyl methacrylate chloride, 3-(N-benzyl-N,N-dipropylammonium)propyl acrylate chloride, and 3-(N-benzyl-N,N-dipropylammonium)propyl methacrylate chloride. It is of course also possible to use the corresponding bromides and sulfates instead of the chlorides named.

Preference is given to using 2-(N,N,N-trimethylammonium)ethyl acrylate chloride, 2-(N,N,N-trimethylammonium)ethyl methacrylate chloride, 2-(N-benzyl-N,N-dimethylammonium)ethyl acrylate chloride, and 2-(N-benzyl-N,N-dimethylammonium)ethyl methacrylate chloride.

It is of course also possible to use mixtures of the aforementioned ethylenically unsaturated monomers BS and/or BA.

With particular advantage the composition of the monomers B is chosen such that polymerization of them alone would result in an addition polymer having a glass transition temperature ≦100° C., preferably ≦60° C., in particular ≦40° C., and frequently ≧−30° C. and often ≧−20° C. or ≧−10° C.

The glass transition temperature is normally determined in accordance with DIN 53 765 (Differential Scanning Calorimetry, 20 K/min, midpoint measurement).

According to Fox (T. G. Fox, Bull. Am. Phys. Soc. 1956 [Ser. II] 1, page 123, and in accordance with Ullmann's Encyclopädie der technischen Chemie, Vol. 19, page 18, 4th edition, Verlag Chemie, Weinheim, 1980) it is the case that for the glass transition temperature T_(g) of copolymers with no more than low degrees of crosslinking, in good approximation: 1/T _(g) =x ¹ /T _(g) ¹ +x ² /T _(g) ² + . . . x ^(n) /T _(g) ^(n), where x¹, x², x^(n) are the mass fractions of the monomers 1, 2, . . . n and T_(g) ¹, T_(g) ², . . . T_(g) ^(n) are the glass transition temperatures of the addition polymers synthesized in each case only from one of the monomers 1, 2, . . . n, in degrees Kelvin. The T_(g) values for the homopolymers of the majority of monomers are known and are listed for example in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, 5th ed., Vol. A21, page 169, Verlag Chemie, Weinheim, 1992; further sources of homopolymer glass transition temperatures are formed, for example, by J. Brandrup, E. H. Immergut, Polymer Handbook, 1^(st) Ed., J. Wiley, New York, 1966; 2^(nd) Ed. J. Wiley, New York, 1975 and 3^(rd) Ed. J. Wiley, New York, 1989.

In accordance with the invention the total amount of monomers B is metered into the aqueous polymerization medium in step f) of the process. In this case the monomers B may be metered into the aqueous polymerization medium discontinuously in one or more portions or continuously with the same or changing volume flow rates. With particular advantage the metering of the monomers B takes place continuously with the same volume flow rates, more particularly as part of an aqueous monomer emulsion.

Initiators suitable for preparing the aqueous composite-particle dispersion of the invention by free-radical polymerization include all those free-radical polymerization initiators capable of triggering a free-radical aqueous emulsion polymerization. The initiators can in principle comprise both peroxides and azo compounds. Redox initiator systems are also suitable, of course. Peroxides used can in principle be inorganic peroxides, such as hydrogen peroxide or peroxodisulfates, such as the mono- or di-alkali metal salts or ammonium salts of peroxodisulfuric acid, examples being the mono- and di-sodium and -potassium salts, or ammonium salts, thereof, or else organic peroxides, such as alkyl hydroperoxides, examples being tert-butyl, p-mentyl and cumyl hydroperoxide, and also dialkyl or diaryl peroxides, such as di-tert-butyl peroxide or dicumyl peroxide. Azo compounds used are primarily 2,2′-azobis(isobutyronitrile), 2,2′-azobis(2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile), and 2,2′-azobis(amidinopropyl) dihydrochloride (AIBA, corresponding to V-50 from Wako Chemicals). Suitable oxidizing agents for redox initiator systems are essentially the abovementioned peroxides. Corresponding reducing agents used can be compounds of sulfur with a low oxidation state, such as alkali metal sulfites, e.g., potassium and/or sodium sulfite, alkali metal hydrogen sulfites, e.g., potassium and/or sodium hydrogen sulfite, alkali metal metabisulfites, e.g., potassium and/or sodium metabisulfite, formaldehyde-sulfoxylates, e.g., potassium and/or sodium formaldehyde-sulfoxylate, alkali metal salts, especially potassium salts and/or sodium salts, of aliphatic sulfinic acids, and alkali metal hydrogen sulfides, e.g., potassium and/or sodium hydrogen sulfide, salts of polyvalent metals, such as iron(II) sulfate, iron(II) ammonium sulfate, iron(II) phosphate, enediols, such as dihydroxymaleic acid, benzoin and/or ascorbic acid, and reducing saccharides, such as sorbose, glucose, fructose and/or dihydroxyacetone. In general, the amount of the free-radical polymerization initiator used, based on the total monomer amount, is 0.1% to 5% by weight.

In accordance with the invention the total amount of the free-radical initiator may be included in the initial charge in the aqueous reaction medium before the polymerization reaction is initiated, in step d) or e) of the process. An alternative possibility is to include, if appropriate, only a portion of the free-radical initiator in the initial charge in the aqueous reaction medium before the polymerization reaction is initiated, in step d) or e) of the process, and then to add the entirety or any remainder in step f) of the process under polymerization conditions, during the free-radical emulsion polymerization of the invention, at the rate at which it is consumed, and continuously or discontinuously.

By initiation of the polymerization reaction is meant the start of the polymerization reaction of the monomers present in the aqueous polymerization medium after the formation of free radicals by the free-radical initiator. The initiation of the polymerization reaction can take place by addition of free-radical initiator to the aqueous polymerization medium under polymerization conditions [process step f)]. An alternative possibility is to add a portion or the entirety of the free-radical initiator to the aqueous polymerization medium comprising the monomers included in the initial charge, under conditions which are not suitable to initiate a polymerization reaction, at low temperature, for example [process steps d) and e)] and thereafter to set polymerization conditions in the aqueous polymerization mixture. By polymerization conditions here are meant, generally, those temperatures and pressures under which the free-radically initiated aqueous emulsion polymerization proceeds with a sufficient polymerization rate. They are dependent more particularly on the free-radical initiator that is used. Advantageously the nature and amount of the free-radical initiator, the polymerization temperature, and the polymerization pressure are selected such that the free-radical initiator has a half-life ≦3 hours, with particular advantage ≦1 hour, and especially advantageously 30 minutes, while at the same time always providing starting free radicals sufficient to initiate and maintain the polymerization reaction.

Suitable reaction temperatures for the free-radical aqueous emulsion polymerization reaction in the presence of the finely divided inorganic solid embrace the entire range from 0 to 170° C. In general, the temperatures used are from 50 to 120° C., frequently 60 to 110° C. and often 70 to 100° C. The free-radical aqueous emulsion polymerization can be conducted at a pressure less than, equal to or greater than 1 atm (atmospheric pressure), and the polymerization temperature may exceed 100° C. and can be up to 170° C. Polymerization is preferably carried out in the presence of highly volatile monomers B, such as ethylene, butadiene or vinyl chloride, under increased pressure. In this case the pressure can adopt values of 1.2, 1.5, 2, 5, 10 or 15 bar or even higher.

When emulsion polymerizations are conducted under subatmospheric pressure, pressures of 950 mbar, frequently 900 mbar and often 850 mbar (absolute) are established. The free-radical aqueous emulsion polymerization is advantageously conducted at 1 atm (absolute) in the absence of oxygen, more particularly under an inert gas atmosphere, such as under nitrogen or argon, for example.

It is important for the process of the invention that the aqueous polymerization medium may in principle also comprise, to a minor extent, organic solvents, such as methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, butanols, but also acetone, etc., for example. It is important, however, that the amount of organic solvent is such that at the end of step e) of the process it is ≦10%, advantageously ≦5%, and with particular advantage ≦2% by weight, based in each case on the total amount of water in the aqueous composite-particle dispersion obtainable in accordance with the invention. In accordance with the invention, advantageously, no such solvents at all are present.

Besides the abovementioned components it is also possible, optionally, in the process of the invention for preparing the aqueous composite-particle dispersion, to use free-radical chain transfer compounds in order to reduce or control the molecular weight of the addition polymers obtainable by the polymerization. Suitable compounds of this type include, essentially, aliphatic and/or araliphatic halogen compounds, such as n-butyl chloride, n-butyl bromide, n-butyl iodide, methylene chloride, ethylene dichloride, chloroform, bromoform, bromotrichloromethane, dibromodichloromethane, carbon tetrachloride, carbon tetrabromide, benzyl chloride, benzyl bromide, organic thio compounds, such as primary, secondary or tertiary aliphatic thiols, such as ethanethiol, n-propanethiol, 2-propanethiol, n-butanethiol, 2-butanethiol, 2-methyl-2-propanethiol, n-pentanethiol, 2-pentanethiol, 3-pentanethiol, 2-methyl-2-butanethiol, 3-methyl-2-butanethiol, n-hexanethiol, 2-hexanethiol, 3-hexanethiol, 2-methyl-2-pentanethiol, 3-methyl-2-pentanethiol, 4-methyl-2-pentanethiol, 2-methyl-3-pentanethiol, 3-methyl-3-pentanethiol, 2-ethylbutanethiol, 2-ethyl-2-butanethiol, n-heptanethiol and its isomers, n-octanethiol and its isomers, n-nonanethiol and its isomers, n-decanethiol and its isomers, n-undecanethiol and its isomers, n-dodecanethiol and its isomers, n-tridecanethiol and its isomers, substituted thiols, such as 2-hydroxyethanethiol, aromatic thiols, such as benzenethiol, ortho-, meta-, or para-methylbenzenethiol, and also all other sulfur compounds described in Polymer Handbook 3^(rd) edition, 1989, J. Brandrup and E. H. Immergut, John Wiley & Sons, Section II, pages 133 to 141, and also aliphatic and/or aromatic aldehydes, such as acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde and/or benzaldehyde, unsaturated fatty acids, such as oleic acid, dienes with nonconjugated double bonds, such as divinylmethane, or vinylcyclohexane or hydrocarbons having readily abstractable hydrogen atoms, such as toluene, for example. It is, however, also possible to use mixtures of mutually compatible, abovementioned free-radical chain transfer compounds. The total amount of the free-radical chain transfer compounds used optionally, based on the total amount of the monomers to be polymerized, is generally ≦5% by weight, often ≦3% by weight, and frequently ≦1% by weight.

Depending on the stability of the aqueous dispersions of solids that are used, steps e) and f) of the process may be carried out in the acidic, neutral or basic pH range. When phyllosilicates are used, the pH is advantageously ≧5 and ≦11, with particular advantage ≧6 and ≦10 (respective sample measured at 20° C. and 1 atm).

The aqueous composite-particle dispersions obtainable by the process of the invention normally have a total solids content of from 1% to 70%, frequently from 5% to 65%, and often from 10% to 60%, by weight.

The composite particles obtainable by the invention generally have particle diameters of >10 nm and ≦1000 nm, frequently ≦500 nm, and often ≦250 nm. The determination of the particle size of the composite particles takes place, in the context of this specification, generally by the method of quasielastic light scattering (DIN ISO 13321) using a High Performance Particle Sizer (HPPS) from Malvern Instruments Ltd.

The composite particles obtainable by the process of the invention can have different structures. These composite particles may comprise one or more of the finely divided solid particles. The finely divided solid particles may be completely enveloped by the polymer matrix. It is, however, also possible for some of the finely divided solid particles to be enveloped by the polymer matrix, while some others are disposed on the surface of the polymer matrix. As will be appreciated, it is also possible for a major fraction of the finely divided solid particles to be bound on the surface of the polymer matrix.

Of course, the remaining amounts of unreacted monomers A and/or B that are left in the aqueous polymerization medium after the conclusion of the polymerization reaction can be removed by means of steam stripping and/or inert-gas stripping and/or by means of chemical deodorization, as described, for example, in specifications DE-A 44 19 518, EP-A 767 180 or DE-A 38 34 734, without disadvantageously changing the properties of the aqueous composite-particle dispersions.

Addition-polymer films comprising inorganic solid particles can be produced in a simple way from the aqueous composite-particle dispersions obtainable by way of the process of the invention. As compared with addition-polymer films not comprising inorganic solid particles, these additional-polymer films generally feature enhanced mechanical strength, reduced whitening, improved adhesion to mineral surfaces, improved resistance to organic solvents, and enhanced scratch resistance, blocking resistance, and heat stability.

Aqueous composite-particle dispersions prepared in accordance with the process of the invention are thus particularly suitable, for example, as a binder, for producing a protective coat, as an adhesive or for modifying cement formulations and mortar formulations, or in medical diagnostics (cf., e.g., K. Mosbach and L. Andersson, Nature 270 (1977), pages 259 to 261; P. L. Kronick, Science 200 (1978), pages 1074 to 1076; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,157,323). Furthermore, the composite particles can also be used as catalysts in various aqueous dispersion systems.

It is also noted that the aqueous composite-particle dispersions obtainable in accordance with the invention can be dried in a simple way to form redispersible composite-particle powders (e.g., by freeze drying or spray drying). This is particularly the case when the glass transition temperature of the polymer matrix of the composite particles obtainable in accordance with the invention is ≧50° C., preferably ≧60° C., more preferably ≧70° C., very preferably ≧80° C., and with particular preference ≧90° C. or ≧100° C. The composite-particle powders are suitable, among other things, as additives for plastics, as components for toner formulations or as additives in electrophotographic applications, and also as components in cement formulations and mortar formulations.

The process of the invention permits single-stage and solvent-free access to aqueous composite-particle dispersions, using silane monomers. Furthermore, the films obtainable from the aqueous composite-particle dispersions of the invention feature improved breaking strengths and/or breaking extensions. The films also exhibit a relatively homogeneous distribution of the inorganic solid.

The invention is illustrated in more detail with reference to the following, nonlimiting examples.

EXAMPLES a) Preparation of the Aqueous Composite-Particle Dispersions Example 1

A 2 l four-necked flask equipped with a reflux condenser, a thermometer, a mechanical stirrer, and a metering device was charged at 20 to 25° C. (room temperature) and 1 atm (absolute), under a nitrogen atmosphere and with stirring (200 revolutions per minute), with 489 g of deionized water, 20 g of Laponite® RDS phyllosilicate in powder form (trademark of Rockwood Holdings, Inc.; average diameter in the delaminated, dispersed state: 20 to 50 nm) over the course of 5 minutes. In order to delaminate the phyllosilicate completely, the initial charge was stirred further for 15 minutes (200 revolutions per minute) and then heated to 82° C. Subsequently 1.2 g of (3-methacryloyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane were metered in continuously over the course of one hour via a feed line. Then a solution consisting of 40 g of deionized water, 2.1 g of a 10% strength by weight aqueous sodium hydroxide solution and 0.6 g of sodium peroxodisulfate was added over the course of 2 minutes via a further, separate feed line, and 5 minutes were allowed to pass. Subsequently the reaction mixture was heated to 85° C. In parallel with this a homogenous emulsion was prepared, as feed 1, consisting of 401 g of deionized water, 8.9 g of a 45% strength by weight aqueous solution of Dowfax® 2A1, 18.4 g of a 10% strength by weight aqueous sodium hydroxide solution, 4 g of methacrylic acid, 118 g of n-butyl acrylate, 60 g of methyl methacrylate, 16 g of ethyl acrylate and 1.7 g of (3-methacryloyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane, and, as feed 2, a mixture of 161 g of deionized water, 8.5 g of a 10% strength by weight aqueous sodium hydroxide solution and 2.4 g of sodium peroxodisulfate. After the heating operation, the two feeds were metered in, beginning at the same time, via separate feed lines, as follows. Feed 1 was metered in continuously over the course of 2 hours, the metering rate being 3.14 g/minute in the first 40 minutes and 6.28 g/minute thereafter. In parallel, feed 2 was metered in two hours with a continuous volume flow. To conclude, the reaction mixture was stirred at reaction temperature for 30 minutes and, finally, was cooled to room temperature.

The aqueous composite-particle dispersion thus obtained had a solids content of 18.5% by weight, based on the total weight of the aqueous composite-particle dispersion.

The solids content was generally determined by drying about 1 g of the composite-particle dispersion to constant weight in an open aluminum crucible having an internal diameter of approximately 3 cm in a drying oven at 150° C. To determine the solids content, two separate measurements were conducted in each case and the corresponding average was formed.

The pH of the composite-particle dispersion was 8.1.

The size of the composite particles was determined generally by the method of quasielastic light scattering (DIN ISO 13321) using a High Performance Particle Sizer (HPPS) from Malvern Instruments Ltd. An average particle size of 102 nm was found.

Using the analytical ultracentrifuge it was also possible to detect that the composite particles obtained had a homogeneous density of 1.33 g/cm³. No free particles of phyllosilicate solid were detectable (cf., on this point, also S. E. Harding et al., Analytical Ultracentrifugation in Biochemistry and Polymer Science, Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, Great Britain 1992, Chapter 10, Analysis of Polymer Dispersions with an Eight-Cell AUC Multiplexer: High Resolution Particle Size Distribution and Density Gradient Techniques, W. Mächtle, pages 147 to 175).

Example 2

Example 2 was prepared as for example 1 with the difference that 0.2 g of (3-methacryloyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane was included in the initial charge and 2.7 g of (3-methacryloyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane were metered as part of the monomer emulsion.

The aqueous composite-particle dispersion thus obtained had a solids content of 18.7% by weight, based on the total weight of the aqueous composite-particle dispersion.

The pH of the composite-particle dispersion was 8.2.

An average particle size of 110 nm was found.

No free phyllosilicates were detectable using the analytical ultracentrifuge. Furthermore, the composite particles had a homogeneous density of 1.33 g/cm³.

Example 3

Example 3 was prepared as for example 1 with the difference that 0.1 g of (3-methacryloyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane was included in the initial charge and 1.4 g of (3-methacryloyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane were metered as part of the monomer emulsion.

The aqueous composite-particle dispersion thus obtained had a solids content of 18.5% by weight, based on the total weight of the aqueous composite-particle dispersion.

The pH of the composite-particle dispersion was 8.1.

An average particle size of 108 nm was found.

No free phyllosilicates were detectable using the analytical ultracentrifuge. Furthermore, the composite particles had a homogeneous density of 1.33 g/cm³.

Comparative Example 1

Comparative example 1 was prepared as for example 1 with the difference that the total amount of (3-methacryloyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane was metered in feed 1 as part of the monomer emulsion.

The aqueous composite-particle dispersion thus obtained had a solids content of 18.6% by weight, based on the total weight of the aqueous composite-particle dispersion.

The pH of the composite-particle dispersion was 8.2.

An average particle size of 110 nm was found.

A fraction of approximately 10% by weight of free phyllosilicates was detectable using the analytical ultracentrifuge.

Example 4

Example 4 was prepared as for example 1 with the difference that use was made as feed 1 of an emulsion consisting of 401 g of deionized water, 8.9 g of the 45% strength by weight aqueous solution of Dowfax® 2A1, 18.4 g of a 10% strength by weight solution of sodium hydroxide solution, 4 g of methacrylic acid, 118 g of n-butyl acrylate, 76 g of methyl methacrylate, and 1.7 g of (3-methacryloyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane.

The aqueous composite-particle dispersion thus obtained had a solids content of 18.2% by weight, based on the total weight of the aqueous composite-particle dispersion.

The pH of the composite-particle dispersion was 8.2.

An average particle size of 107 nm was found.

No free phyllosilicates were detectable using the analytical ultracentrifuge.

Example 5

Example 5 was prepared as for example 1 with the difference that use was made as feed 1 of an emulsion consisting of 401 g of deionized water, 8.9 g of the 45% strength by weight aqueous solution of Dowfax® 2A1, 18.4 g of a 10% strength by weight solution of sodium hydroxide solution, 31 g of methyl acrylate, 25 g of styrene, 4.5 g of methacrylic acid, 62 g of n-butyl acrylate, 31 g of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, and 1.7 g of (3-methacryloyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane. The feed rate was 2.92 g/minute for the first 40 minutes and 5.84 g/minute thereafter.

The aqueous composite-particle dispersion thus obtained had a solids content of 15.9% by weight, based on the total weight of the aqueous composite-particle dispersion.

The pH of the composite-particle dispersion was 8.3.

An average particle size of 105 nm was found.

No free phyllosilicates were detectable using the analytical ultracentrifuge.

Example 6

Example 6 was prepared as for example 1 with the difference that Optigel® SH (trademark of Südchemie AG) was used as phyllosilicate instead of Laponite® RDS.

The aqueous composite-particle dispersion thus obtained had a solids content of 18.9% by weight, based on the total weight of the aqueous composite-particle dispersion.

The pH of the composite-particle dispersion was 8.1.

An average particle size of 105 nm was found.

No free phyllosilicates were detectable using the analytical ultracentrifuge.

Example 7

Example 7 was prepared as for example 1 with the difference that Optigel® EX 0482 (trademark of Südchemie AG) was used as phyllosilicate instead of Laponite® RDS.

The aqueous composite-particle dispersion thus obtained had a solids content of 18.5% by weight, based on the total weight of the aqueous composite-particle dispersion.

The pH of the composite-particle dispersion was 8.1.

An average particle size of 103 nm was found.

No free phyllosilicates were detectable using the analytical ultracentrifuge.

b) Performance Investigations

Breaking Strength and Breaking Elongation

Films were produced from the aqueous composite-particle dispersions of examples 1, 2, and 3 and also of comparative example 1, and their breaking strength and breaking extension were ascertained.

The fracture-mechanical properties of the abovementioned composite-particle dispersion films were determined in a tensile test to DIN 53504. The thickness of the dispersion films was 0.4 to 0.5 mm and the take-off speed was 25.4 mm/min. Before the beginning of the investigation, the corresponding amounts of the composite-particle dispersions were applied to a Teflon support and, for the formation of the dispersion films, were stored for 14 days in a controlled-climate chamber at 23° C. and 50% relative humidity. The figures reported in the table below are in each case the average values from 5 separate measurements in each case.

Breaking Breaking strength BS extension Toughness Example (N/mm²) BE (%) (BS × BE) 1 3.0 730 2190 2 2.7 750 2025 3 2.1 850 1785 Comparative example 1 1.6 700 1120 

1. A process for preparing an aqueous dispersion of composite particles, comprising: a) providing a stable aqueous dispersion of at least one inorganic solid, said dispersion having the characteristic features that 1) at an initial solids concentration of ≧0.1% by weight it retains, in dispersed form, one hour after its preparation, more than 90% by weight of the originally dispersed solid and 2) its dispersed solid particles have a diameter ≦100 nm, and b) providing as ethylenically unsaturated monomers ≧0.01% and ≦10% by weight of at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer A comprising a silicon functional group and ≧90% and ≦99.99% by weight of at least one further ethylenically unsaturated monomer B which is different from monomer A, the amounts of monomers A and B adding to 100% by weight, and c) wherein the amount of the inorganic solid is 1 to 1000 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of ethylenically unsaturated monomers, d) feeding at least a portion of the stable aqueous dispersion of at least one inorganic solid as an initial charge of an aqueous polymerization medium, and subsequently e) feeding at least a portion of monomer A into the initial charge of the aqueous polymerization medium containing at least a portion of the stable aqueous dispersion of the at least one inorganic solid over a period of ≧5 and ≦240 minutes to provide an intermediate composition, and subsequently f) feeding any remainder of the stable aqueous dispersion of the at least one inorganic solid, any remainder of monomer A and the total amount of monomer B to said intermediate composition under polymerization conditions.
 2. The process according to claim 1, wherein ≧50% by weight of the inorganic solid is included as the initial charge in d).
 3. The process according to claim 1 wherein the total amount of the inorganic solid is included as the initial charge in d).
 4. The process according to claim 1 wherein e) is conducted at a temperature ≧50 and ≦100° C.
 5. The process according to claim 1 wherein ≧5% and ≦70% by weight of the total amount of the monomers A are metered into said inorganic solid aqueous dispersion in e).
 6. The process according to claim 1, wherein the inorganic solid comprises silicon.
 7. The process according to claim 1, wherein the inorganic solid is a pyrogenic (fumed) silica, a colloidal silica, a phyllosilicate, or a mixture thereof.
 8. The process according to claim 1, wherein the aqueous polymerization medium comprises ≦10% by weight of organic solvent, based on the total amount of water, following e).
 9. The process according to claim 1, wherein monomer A is at least one selected from the group consisting of (3-methacryloyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane, (3-methacryloyloxypropyl)triethoxysilane, (methacryloyloxymethyl)-methyldiethoxysilane and (3-methacryloyloxypropyl)methyl-diethyloxysilane.
 10. The process according to claim 1, wherein the aqueous dispersion further comprises at least one dispersant, wherein said at least one dispersant is an anionic or a non-ionic emulsifier, or a mixture thereof.
 11. The process according to claim 1, wherein the total amount of the monomers A is ≧0.5% and ≦3% by weight, based on the total monomer amount, and wherein ≧10% and ≦50% by weight of the total amount of the monomers A are metered in f).
 12. The process according to claim 1, wherein polymerization of only monomers B results in an addition polymer having a glass transition temperature <60° C.
 13. The process according to claim 1, wherein monomer A is fed in e) over a period of ≧30 and ≦120 minutes.
 14. The process according to claim 1, wherein monomer A is fed in e) over a period of ≧45 and ≦75 minutes.
 15. The process according to claim 1 wherein e) is conducted at a temperature ≧75 and ≦95° C. 